John J. LaRoche
DAYVILLE — John J. LaRoche, 71, of Country Acres Park, died Oct. 30, 2025, after a long battle with lung cancer. He was the husband of Amy Vaillancourt for many years. Born Oct. 5, 1954, in Putnam, he was the son of the late Laurent Richard LaRoche and the late Anne R. Hayes.
In John’s early years he grew up on the family farm in Thompson raising cows, sheep, ducks, chickens and any wild animal that came along. In his late teens the travel bug set in, he began the journey by hitchhiking across the country. He went west and hit every state with the occasional phone call for bail money. When he returned home, he began a career of many his favorite being a welder at EB. 
Around that time the kids started to arrive, first Shannon, then Sheila, and then his mini me Little Joey. This journey took him out to Montana and Oklahoma where he resided for many years until the travel bug hit again this time he ended up in Florida. In his later years he decided he wanted to come back home and settle into the northeast to begin his final adventure.
This is when he meets his wife Amy, and he settled into life the entire time rescuing and rehabilitating many abandoned baby deer that he would encounter. He was lovingly referred to as the deer whisperer. John had a love for all things Harley related; he owned many bikes and loved nothing but riding as the wind blew through his hair. He was also an avid collector of many parts and always on the hunt for more. He could probably build a whole bike with all the parts hanging around. John was a man with a heart of gold and if he had the part you were looking for, or something you needed he would gladly give it up.
He leaves his wife, Amy Vaillancourt; two daughters, Shannon LaRoche, Sheila LaRoche; two sisters, Peggy LaRoche, Jo LaRoche; stepdaughter, Heidi Vaillancourt; stepson, Noah Vaillancourt; 12 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. And his loyal companion Loki and mother-in-law Barbara Vaillancourt. John is predeceased by son, Joey LaRoche; brother, Brian LaRoche; and his father and mother-in-law, Arsene Vaillancourt.
Visitation was Nov. 7 at the Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

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